NATCHEZ, Ms. – Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center will host its “Barbershop Bash” event on Saturday, November 16 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Don’s Barbershop (231 N. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St.) in Natchez. This no-cost community screening event will offer educational resources on prevention and early detection as well as screenings for prostate and colorectal cancer. There will also be free food, music and fun activities for children.
While appointments are encouraged, walk-in screenings are available. To make an appointment, call (601) 202-5056 or visit marybird.org/get-screened/.
“We are proud to bring our Barbershop Bash event to the Natchez community,” said Renea Duffin, vice president, cancer support and outreach, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. “We encourage everyone to come out and take advantage of these life-saving cancer screenings. We know that early detection is so important when it comes to treating cancer and improving health outcomes. This event could literally
save your life.”
Mary Bird Perkins is hosting this Barbershop Bash to raise awareness of the risks of prostate cancer and colorectal cancer and the importance of getting screened, especially among African American men.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancer diagnoses for men, with roughly one in eight men being diagnosed in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Colorectal cancer is also one of the most common cancers in both men and women. The 5-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is 91% if detected early. However, only 38% of colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage.
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center works with community partners to offer screening events in various settings, including barbershops. Barbershop owners are often seen as trusted messengers in their communities and their barbershops are open discussion forums where men can discuss life and challenges, like health-related issues, among their peers. For Mary Bird Perkins, it’s about reaching men where they are.
This event is offered at no-cost to the community thanks to the generous support of the United Health Foundation. In 2023, the Foundation announced a three-year grant partnership with the Cancer Center to help increase access to prostate and colorectal cancer education, screening and support for historically underserved individuals across Louisiana and southwest Mississippi.
For more information about this event or to learn more about other upcoming Barbershop Bash events, visit marybird.org/barbershopbash.